Paris Hilton loves SA despite drug arrest

South Africa: American party girl on Saturday Paris Hilton said she still loved South Africa despite being arrested for drug possession although the charges were later withdrawn.

Hilton and her friend, former Playboy Playmate Jennifer Rovero, were taken into custody for carrying a joint at the Brazil-Netherlands quarter-final match in the southern city of Port Elizabeth on Friday.

But the state dropped the charges against the heiress after Rovero pleaded guilty.

In a post on Twitter after the incident Hilton wrote: "Hey guys, there`s a lot of crazy rumors going around. Just want you all to know the truth. Everything is completely fine.

"I was not charged or arrested, cause I didn`t do anything. I was assisting the police with the investigation and answering their questions.

"Everyone was super nice and friendly to me. I love South Africa! Such an amazing place, especially during The World Cup! Hope that clears everything up. Love you guys, thanks for your concern. Xoxo P."

Hilton and Rovero appeared in one of South Africa`s special World Cup courts early Saturday morning.

Police approached the pair outside the stadium on Friday after smelling marijuana, said spokeswoman Sally de Beer.

A joint was thrown to the ground and the women apparently were ushered inside by bodyguards, she said.

"Police seized the evidence and approached the women inside the stadium. The women were taken into custody after a bodyguard handed a second cannabis cigarette over to the police," she said.

"Charges were withdrawn against Miss Paris Hilton as her co-accused acknowledged being in possession of the cannabis and pleaded guilty."

Despite Hilton`s Twitter account saying that she was not charged or arrested, De Beer told AFP that this was not the case.

"She was arrested and then the charges were formally withdrawn in court," she said.

"Maybe what she`s trying to say is that she was cooperative, which apparently she was, very sweet and cooperative."

After the magistrate told Hilton the charges had been dropped, the heiress replied "Thank you, your honour" and left the court, after the three-minute hearing.

She arrived at the courthouse about 30 minutes earlier and appeared relaxed, smiling at court officials with her blonde hair pulled into two ponytails and wearing a white t-shirt with a lion on the front, green trousers and brown boots.

While she waited for the hearing, people with FIFA badges were seen bringing her seven pizzas, 12 cold drinks and six waters in an antechamber.

Her friend 31-year-old Rovero was found guilty of possession of marijuana and ordered to either spend 30 days in jail or pay a 1,000 rand (128 dollar, 100 euro) fine. She paid the fine.

South Africa set up the special World Cup courts to quickly handle crimes involving foreigners during the tournament.

A darling of the tabloids, Hilton, the great-granddaughter of the Hilton hotel chain`s founder, shot to fame in 2003 when her boyfriend leaked a video of their sexual escapades on the Internet.